Henry Vanderglas was outstanding on Sunday - the best individual display of the season IMO.

How the hell does Liam Middleton pick a back row??

Grieve: captain and huge player for us
Ovens: dynamic and one of the most consistent players
Vanderglas: Aside from Otto, looks the most individually gifted player we have
Merriman: the best back rower we have

Throw Pennycook, Montsgu and Mama in the mix and you have a real selection dilemma.

Not to mention that Harris-Wright, arguably our strongest hooker, is back in the next couple of weeks. Good times.

Regarding Ovens, is one of the reasons he's delaying his 'Bris v Bath' contract decision because he's not sure of a starting spot at either club?

To compete in the Prem, we need a specialist 8. If Grieve and Vanderglas don't fall into that category, that would make them a 6 (don't really see Vanderglas as a 7, especially not with Red and Merriman in the squad). Then it's Ovens v Grieve v Vanderglas for that 6 shirt. Maybe Ovens is concerned he won't win that battle against the club captain and a player in great form.

If Vanderglas was the number 6 then you have a real diamond there.He caused us no end of bother.

As a matter of interest what's he like dogging it out on a mud bath in the pouring rain? He's obviously outstanding on firm surfaces.By the looks of him he is the sort of player who just givesw 100% whenever he is on the pitch.

Looking forward to seeing him again in the final when the Pirates and Briss get it on again.

Skippee's best performance by some way, although he seems to lend his teflon hands from last week to Will. I thought he played a lot like Ovens in style. Although Dan is playing well I really want to see Skippy given a run at 8, was surprised that Grives played there when he came on.

And there Graham , is the point we've both made before. The desire to play Grieve means that we try to slot him in at 8 when this is undoubtedly not his true position. or he needs a lot of specialist coaching (Dean Richards?!). It means to me that the coaches know he's good, he's captain and has to play when fit. The fact that it's not where he ought to play makes me think that they believe other players are better at 6 or 7. Frankly I thinks he's a 6 and has to duke it out for that spot.

I think new players often make mistakes (including dropping the ball) by being too keen and eager to impress. Let's not brand him as teflon hands quite yet - I suspect it was just case of over-eagerness to smash into a player or surge into space before he really had the ball under control. He is going to be a diamond IMO.

It's a horrible way to think, but I'm working on the basis that Josh Ovens is a Bath player, and will probably be a Bath player next season.
So whichever league we are in, we have Grieve & Merriman as 6 & 7. If Vanderglas & Pennycook sign on for next season then I can't see any problem with our flankers. Coupled with Mama getting ever better. Very competition, keeping all 4 players honest and playing at their best as they know there is someone waiting behind them.

Regarding the captain, it's the way he leads the team that merits his inclusion. Grieve is a good 6 & a good 8, but not quite Ovens or Monty. But can you really leave him out if he can inspire the team etc?

For those Like Teflon head who appear so sensitive and interpret things that are not there let me explain.

Last week Skippy was poor, dropped loads of ball - Teflon Hand is a usual moniker for such problem. As Rich say he was probably too keen and looked annoyed with himself. Whilst I've read his past I've only commented on his performance for us, I've seen too many signing with golden write-ups that have not performed for us.

Sunday he was good, "his best by some way" as I wrote. At one point the crowd replaced the usual Bristol chant with a Skippy chant. I'd still like to see him given a run at 8.

Unfortunately this week Will dropped several balls, and so appears to have borrowed the Telfon hands from last week. Lets hope he's left them in Cornwall.

IMHO Will has improved game by game until Sunday. His decision making not quite right and tried to offload too much resulting in knocks on or lost possession in good positions.

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